Lynn wrote:
> I could some help with this myself Maude.
> my 2 year old dog is eating more since the puppy is here.I used to be able
> to set food out and she would nibble all day My vet told me today to just
> food out and then take it away if she eats it or not.
> I am not comfortable with a raw diet but always added to their dry food.
> maybe too much by the sounds of it. where do I start? I do read labels and
> was suprised the most dry dog food doesn't have meat at the first
> ingredient! corn meal crap or better yet chicken meal??? sounds like corn
> meal with chicken juice on it. both my babies eat too many treats ( some
> homemade tho)
> there was this show on Sat-Sun night? about dogfood and the recent animals
> death in 2007 but I forgot to hit record and missed it.
Ok - basic dog feeding 101 - First, buy a good food. I feed Evo or
Honest Kitchen, but there are lots of dog foods out there without grain.
While I feed totally grain free, that is not a requirement. Just make
sure your food is not mostly grain, and make sure it doesn't have
unnecessary fillers and sugars in it. Buy it at a good pet store (one
that does not sell puppy mill puppies!) and never at the grocery. You
will save money in the long run because you will feed much less without
fillers (and you will have less poop to pick up).
Second, pay no attention to the feeding instructions on the package. I
actually feed about half of the amount suggested on the bag. Weigh your
dog frequently and adjust the amount you feed as needed. Use treats
sparingly and as special incentives, not just regular snacks. Plain dog
food works fine for training treats too, but remember to feed a bit less
at meal time.
Third - supplement your basic food with additives for health and
variety. Good additives are nonfat yogurt (just a little), canned
pumpkin (excellent for digestive regularity) a bit of fish or salmon oil
at times (do not overdo the salmon oil - there are some reports of
problems with too much salmon oil if you do not feed enough
vitamin e),
a bit of egg if you wish. Unsalted, canned green beans poured over the
top of the chow are great and help fill up the dog without adding
calories. Some dogs love romaine lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower,
carrots. You can feed these, in small amounts, raw if they like them.
Lots of doggies like little carrots for training treats.
Fourth - Never, never, never free feed. Dogs in the wild stock up
during fat times to prepare for lean times to come. If there are no
lean times, the dog will eventually get and stay fat. Feed your dog two
small meals a day. Sure, they can do just fine on one meal a day but
then, so can you! Let the poor doggie have something in his stomach!
Fifth - If your dog does not eat, take the food away and do not offer it
later or add it as extra food to his next meal. Some research has proven
that dogs who fast once a week are actually healthier than those who
don't. Your dog will not starve if she misses a meal. She'll be fine,
believe me.
If you are feeding more than one dog, do not allow one to clean up what
the other doesn't eat. If your dog leaves his bowl without finishing,
you are feeding too much. If your dog is used to free feeding, it may
take a day or two for him to realize that the food you don't eat goes
away forever, but he will catch on pretty fast and start wolfing his
food like a real canine. While changing your routine, you may want to
add an extra incentive to the kibble to encourage wolfing. A bit of
meat juice (not fat) or small bits of meat mixed in can do the trick.
One final thought - something that works for me with all my dogs but is
not essential - my dogs never, ever fight about food. I say the name of
the dog I am feeding or giving a treat, and only that dog is allowed to
go for the good. If the dogs squabble about food or treats, regardless
of which of them is at fault, the food simply goes away. Period. I do
not feed again until the next regular meal. Dogs are smart and once
they realize that fighting over food makes the food disappear, they will
behave well at meal time! Remember, they can easily skip a meal without
any harm.
Guess this has something to do with not smoking. One of the reasons I
quit was so I could breathe to run agility with the doggies, and so I
could afford to do it! I have not regretted it for even a second. Dogs
as a hobby and a lifestyle, beat the hell out of smoking!
Let me know if there is anything else I can tell you. All of this
research ought to benefit more than just three spoiled, hairy dogs!
Maude
Mud brain? 
Lynn VOF Leaper
Linear Mode
